Opening up my classes, looking for co-learners: Fall 2009 School Law & DDDM

Some of you may have noticed that I have two online courses coming up this fall. Here’s what I’m thinking…

I’ve been reading Jeff Jarvis’ superb book, What Would Google Do? (which I’ll be writing more about soon). Over and over again, he stresses the importance of openness, transparency, collaboration, collective action, co-learning, co-creation of knowledge, and giving up control in this new Internet era.

So what would that look like in a graduate-level course? I’m not quite sure but I want to find out. I’m taking my two most popular educational leadership courses - School Law & Data-Driven Decision-Making - and offering them online to anyone, anywhere who wants to take them.

I’m looking for teachers and administrators who want to dive in deep, wrestle with thorny problems, and challenge their thinking regarding these two important school leadership topics. I don’t know yet what directions we’ll go; we’ll determine that together. I don’t know yet what topics we’ll cover; we’ll determine that together. I don’t know yet how we’ll demonstrate our learning; we’ll determine that together. The point of this is that I’m not going to be the omniscient, omnipotent faculty member dictating course structure, sequence, assessment, etc. This is a joint exercise in learning and I need participants who are willing to be active co-learners.

I’ve taught these classes online before with great success. I’ve prided myself on being a student-centered instructor. But it’s time to take my teaching to the next level. Am I a little uncertain about this? Absolutely. But a little healthy instructional tension will be good for me and my students both.

6 Responses to “Opening up my classes, looking for co-learners: Fall 2009 School Law & DDDM”

Sorry. Scholarships / assistantships / etc. typically only available for full-time students at ISU. Folks who take 6 credits may be eligible for student loans via Financial Aid. Some school organizations may pay costs for participants (PD monies from stimulus funds re: student achievement)?

You’ve got my attention—especially considering that I really, really want to finish a degree in Ed Leadership, but want to do it online and online only.

I haven’t had the chance to poke through the fees (sure am hoping that everyone gets “in-state” tuition in an online course!) OR to check out the possibility of earning an entire degree with ISU, but I might just be joining your merry band of learners this August.